Page 139 of Her Blood Revenge

Her eyes widen as something behind us catches her eye.

I turn to see the prince’s soldiers gathering at the top of the valley. They wear his colours, but there’s no sign of the little coward.

Great. Now we’re penned between some water witches with the ocean ready to drown us all at any minute and a human army looking to slaughter us and catch her.

There are no unseelie that I can see. And Neve’s scent is nowhere to be found.

So that’s something, I guess. But then again, we didn’t catch her scent until we saw her last time, either. And knowing our luck, she’ll come.

There’s a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Pixie looking up at me. She says nothing as she sweeps her hair to one side and shows me her neck.

‘Drink. I can smell you’re weak. I need you strong.’

I know drinking from her will weaken her. But I’m no good to anyone like this.

‘Drink. Please.’ She takes hold of my collar and pulls me in.

My arm wraps around her waist, and I pull her in, my teeth sinking into her dainty little neck and her blood filling my mouth.

Her breathing is sharp and jagged as I take a small portion of what I truly need.

I pull back and look into her eyes. So big and beautiful. Add in the blood lust and power that shine through them, and I’m amazed I have enough willpower to turn away from her.

‘You good?’ I ask her.

My hands are reluctant to let her go. A huge part of me wants to toss her over my shoulder and drag her away fromthis fight. To protect her and spare her from harm. Harm from the water witches trying to drown us. Harm from the coven who could turn her. Harm from Thalia, that little bitch.

‘The covens and I have this.’ She nods over my shoulder. ‘You deal with the soldiers.’ Her lips crash onto mine before I respond, and I soak up all I can. Her tongue works mine, and her breath warms my skin. ‘Come back in one piece so you can smack my arse for this later.’

‘Oh, Pixie. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.’

I make for the humans.

I’ve had my fill of witches. Let her and Archie deal with them. I will gladly remind these pathetic little men why they never dared turn on us before.

Their nightmares are easy to read, and I have them all screaming in terror within seconds. I stride towards them. I don’t rush. My power over their mind is more lethal than any blade I could wield.

One of the soldiers gouges out his own eyes as his young daughter stands before him, her skin blackened and burnt from a fire that claimed his home and family six years ago. He sees her every night, trapped in their house and screaming as the flames claim her slowly.

Another screams. But he has no voice. And when he tries to run, his legs won’t move. He only takes his last breath when I slam my foot into his skull.

My steps are slow. I’m in no rush, as they are no real threat. Not to me. Not now I have her blood inside me. They fall, and they die as I approach.

The rest of them run. They run back to their coward of a leader, and I would give chase if I didn’t need to stay and protect my crazy little witch.

I turn. The water has started to rise once more, even as some fire witches descend on the attacking water coven. Some twist and manoeuvre their hands to create fire. Others channel the energy of those flames into other gifts or spells.

I’m starting to regret leaving so many witches alive.

Streams of fire shoot in all directions. Not just at the water witches attacking but at the coven, too, spreading the power source of the others who can’t manifest their own flames. It would be beautiful if I didn’t hate the fucking lot of them.

Water witches get struck. They’re not defending themselves, just focusing on the attack. The make-shift dam splinters more and more as that wave continues to rise. The water witches all sweep their hands in one swift and rehearsed move, making the water surge.

The dam bursts, and the water comes.

‘Ashe…’ Her name escapes my lips in a terrified whisper.

She’s so small in the shadow of that great wave. So breakable.

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